Fineness Test on Cement

The fineness of cement has an important bearing on the rate of hydration and hence on the rate of gain of strength and also on the rate of evolution of heat. Finer cement offers a greater surface area for hydration and hence faster the development of strength. The fineness of grinding has increased over the years. But now it has got nearly stabilised. Different cements are ground to different fineness. The disadvantages of fine grinding is that it is susceptible to airset and early deterioration. Maximum number of particles in a sample of cement should have a size less than about 100 microns. The smallest particle may have a size of about 1.5 microns. By and large an average size of the cement particles may be taken as about 10 micron. The particle size fraction below 3 microns has been found to have the predominant effect onthe strength at one day while 3-25 micron fraction has a major influence on the 28 days strength. Increase in fineness of cement is also found to increase the drying shrinkage of concrete. In commercial cement it is suggested that there should be about 25-30 per cent of particles of less than 7 micron in size. Fineness of cement is tested in two ways : (a) By sieving. (b) By determination of specific surface (total surface area of all the particles in one gram of cement) by airpremeability appartus. Expressed as cm2/gm or m2/kg. Generally Blaine Airpermeability appartus is used.

1.

Sieve Test :

Weigh correctly 100 grams of cement and take it on a standard IS Sieve No. 9 (90 microns). Break down the air-set lumps in the sample with fingers. Continuously sieve the sample giving circular and vertical motion for a period of 15 minutes. Mechanical sieving devices may also be used. Weigh the residue left on the sieve. This weight shall not exceed 10% for ordinary cement. Sieve test is rarely used.

2.

Air Permeability Method : This method of test covers the procedure for determining the fineness of cement as represented by specific surface expressed as total surface area in sq. cm/gm. of cement. It is also expressed in m2/kg. Lea and Nurse Air Permeability Appartus is shown. It can be used for measuring the specific surface of cement. The principle is based on the relation between the flow of air through the cement bed and the surface area of the particles comprising the cement bed. From this the surface area per unit weight of the body material can be related to the permeability of a bed of a given porosity. The cement bed in the permeability cell is 1 cm. high and 2.5 cm. in diameter. Knowing the density of cement the weight required to make a cement bed of porosity of 0.475 can be calculated. This quantity of cement is placed in the permeability cell in a standard manner. Slowly pass on air through the cement bed at a constant velocity. Adjust the rate of air flow until the flowmeter shows a difference in level of 30-50 cm. Read the difference in level (h1) of the manometer and the difference in level (h2) of the flowmeter. Repeat these observations to ensure that steady conditions have been obtained as shown by a constant value of h1/h2. Specific surface Sw is calculated from the following formula:

where, = A= L= d C=

Area Length =

Porosity, of (cm) Density

the of Flowmeter of

i.e., the

cement cement cement,

0.475 bed bed and constant.

Fineness can also be measured by Blain Air Permeability apprartus. This method is more commonly employed in India.

Soundness Test on Cement

It is very important that the cement after setting shall not undergo any appreciable change of volume. Certain cements have been found to undergo a large expansion after setting causing disruption of the set and hardened mass. This will cause serious difficulties for the durability of structures when such cement is used. The testing of soundness of cement, to ensure that the cement does not show any appreciable subsequent expansion is of prime importance. The unsoundness in cement is due to the presence of excess of lime than that could be combined with acidic oxide at the kiln. This is also due to inadequate burning or insufficiency in fineness of grinding or thorough mixing of raw materials. It is also likely that too high a proportion of magnesium content or calcium sulphate content may cause unsoundness in cement. For this reason the magnesia content allowed in cement is limited to 6 per cent. It can be recalled that, to prevent flash set, calcium sulphate is added to the clinker while grinding. The quantity of gypsum added will vary from 3 to 5 per cent depending upon C3A content. If the addition of gypsum is more than that could be combined with C3A, excess of gypsum will remain in the cement in free state. This excess of gypsum leads to an expansion and consequent disruption of the set cement paste. Unsoundness in cement is due to excess of lime, excess of magnesia or excessive proportion of sulphates. Unsoundness in cement does not come to surface for a considarable period of time. Therefore, accelerated tests are required to detect it. There are number of such tests in common use. The appartus is shown in figure. It consists of a small split cylinder of spring brass or other suitable metal. It is 30 mm in diameter and 30 mm high. On either side of the split are attached two indicator arms 165 mm long with

pointed ends. Cement is gauged with 0.78 times the water required for standard consistency (0.78 P), in a standard manner and filled into the mould kept on a glass plate. The mould is covered on the top with another glass plate. The whole assembly is immersed in water at a temperature of 27C 32C and kept there for 24 hours. Measure the distance between the indicator points. Submerge the mould again in water. Heat the water and bring to boiling point in about 25-30 minutes and keep it boiling for 3 hours. Remove the mould from the water, allow it to cool and measure the distance between the indicator points. The difference between these two measurements represents the expansion of cement. This must not exceed 10 mm for ordinary, rapid hardening and low heat Portland cements. If in case the expansion is more than 10 mm as tested above, the cement is said to be unsound.

The Le Chatelier test detects unsoundness due to free lime only. This method of testing does not indicate the presence and after effect of the excess of magnesia. Indian Standard Specification stipulates that a cement having a magnesia content of more than 3 per cent shall be tested for soundness byAutoclave test which is sensitive to both free magnesia and free lime. In this test a neat cement specimen 25 25 mm is placed in a standard autoclaveand the steam pressure inside the autoclave is raised in such a rate as to bring the gauge pressure of the steam to 21 kg/ sq cm in 1 11/ 4 hour from the time the heat is turned on. This pressure is maintained for 3 hours. The autoclave is cooled and the length measured again.The high steam pressure accelerates the hydration of both magnesia and lime.

Strength Test on Cement

The compressive strength of hardened cement is the most important of all the properties. Therefore, it is not surprising that the cement is always tested for its strength at the laboratory before the cement is used in important works. Strength tests are not made on neat cement paste because of difficulties of excessive shrinkage and subsequent cracking of neat cement. Strength of cement is indirectly found on cement sand mortar in specific proportions. The standard sand is used for finding the strength of cement. It shall conform to IS 650-1991. Take 555 gms of standard sand (Ennore sand), 185 gms of cement (i.e., ratio of cement to sand is 1:3) in a non-porous enamel tray and mix them with a trowel for one minute, then add water of quantity (P/4 ) + 3.0 per cent o f combined weight of cement and sand and mix the three ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is of uniform colour. The time of mixing should not be less than 3 minutes nor more than 4 minutes. Immediately after mixing, the mortar is filled into a cube mould of size 7.06 cm. The area of the face of the cube will be equal to 50 sq cm. Compact the mortar either by hand compaction in a standard specified manner or on the vibrating equipment (12000 RPM) fo r 2 minutes. Keep the compacted cube in the mould at a temperature of 27C 2C and at least 90 per cent relative humidity for 24 hours. Where the facility of standard temperature and humidity room is not available, the cube may be kept under wet gunny bag to simulate 90 % humidity. After 24 hours the cubes are removed from the mould and immersed in clean fresh water until taken out for testing.

Heat of Hydration Test on Cement

The reaction of cement with water is exothermic. The reaction liberates a considerable quantity of heat. This can be easily observed if a cement is gauged with water and placed in a thermos flask. Much attention has been paid to the heat evolved during the hydration of cement in the interior of mass concrete dams. It is estimated that about 120 calories of heat is generated in the hydration of 1 gm. of cement. From this it can be assessed the total quantum of heat produced in a conservative system such as the interior of a mass concrete dam. A temperature rise of about 50C has been observed. This unduly high temperature developed at the interior of a concrete dam causes serious expansion of the body of the dam and with the subsequent cooling considerable shrinkage takes place resulting in serious cracking of concrete. The use of lean mix, use of pozzolanic cement, artificial cooling of constituent materials and incorporation of pipe system in the body of the dam as the concrete work progresses for circulating cold brine solution through the pipe system to absorb the heat, are some of the methods adopted to offset the heat generation in the body of dams due to heat of hydration of cement. Test for heat of hydration is essentially required to be carried out for low heat cement only. This test is carried out over a few days by vaccum flask methods, or over a longer period in an adiabatic calorimeter. When tested in a standard manner the heat of hydration of low heat Portland cement shall not be more than 65 cal/gm. at 7 days and 75 cal/g, at 28 days.

Standard Consistency Test on Cement (Initial and Final Setting Time Test)

For finding out initial setting time, final setting time and soundness of cement, and strength a parameter known as standard consistency has to be used. It is pertinent at this stage to describe the procedure of conducting standard consistency test. The standard consistency of a cement paste is defined as that consistency which will permit a Vicat plunger having 10 mm diameter and 50 mm length to penetrate to a depth of 33-35 mm from the top of the mould shown in figure. The appartus is called Vicat Appartus. This appartus is used to find out the percentage of water required to produce a cement paste of standard consistency. The standard consistency of the cement paste is some time called normal consistency (CPNC). The following procedures is adopted to find out standard consistency. Take about 500 gms of cement and prepare a paste with a weighed quantity of water (say 24 per cent by weight of cement) for the first trial. The paste must be prepared in a standard manner and filled into the Vicat mould within 3-5 minutes. After completely filling the mould, shake the mould to expel air. A standard plunger, 10 mm diameter, 50 mm long is attached and brought down to touch the surface of the paste in the test block and quickly released allowing it to sink into the paste by its own weight. Take the reading by noting the depth of penetration of the plunger. Conduct a 2nd trial (say with 25 per cent of water) and find out the depth of penetration of plunger. Similarly, conduct trials with higher and higher water/ cement ratios till such time the plunger penetrates for a depth of 33-35 mm from the top. That particular percentage of water which allows the plunger to penetrate only to a depth of 33-35 mm from the top is known as the percentage of water required to produce a cement paste of standard consistency. This percentage is usually denoted as P. The test is required to be conducted in a constant temperature (27 + 2C) and constant humidity (90%). Setting Time Test: An arbitraty division has been made for the setting time of cement as initial setting time and final setting time. It is difficult to draw a rigid line between these two arbitrary divisions. For convenience, initial setting time is regarded as the time elapsed between the moment that the water is added to the cement, to the time that the paste starts losing its plasticity. The final setting time is the time elapsed between the moment the water is added to the cement, and the time when the paste has completely lost its plasticity and has attained sufficient firmness to resist certain definite pressure. In actual construction dealing with cement paste, mortar or concrete certain time is required for mixing, transporting, placing, compacting and finishing. During this time cement paste, mortar, or concrete should be in plastic condition. The time interval for which the cement products remain in plastic condition is known as the initial setting time. Normally a minimum of 30 minutes is given for mixing and handling operations. The constituents and fineness of cement is maintained in such a way that the concrete remains in plastic

condition for certain minimum time. Once the concrete is placed in the final position, compacted and finished, it should lose its plasticity in the earliest possible time so that it is least vulnerable to damages from external destructive agencies. This time should not be more than 10 hours. which is often referred to as final setting time. The Vicat Appartus shown in figure. It is used for setting time test also. The following procedure is adopted. Take 500 gm. of cement sample and guage it with 0.85 times the water required to produce cement paste of standard consistency (0.85 P). The paste shall be guaged and filled into the Vicat mould in specified manner within 3-5 minutes. Start the stop watch the moment water is added to the cement. The temperature of water and that of the test room, at the time of gauging shall be within27C 2C.

Initial Setting Time Test: needly may penetrate only to a depth of 33-35 mm from the top. The period elapsingLower the needle (C) gently and bring it in contact with the surface of the test block and quickly release. Allow it to penetrate into the test block. In the beginning, the needle will completely pierce through the test block. But after some time when the paste starts losing its plasticity, the between the time when water is added to the cement and the time at which the needle penetrates the test block to a depth equal to 33-35 mm from the top is taken as initial setting time.

Final Setting Time Test: Replace the needle (C) of the Vicat appartus by a circular attachment (F) shown in the figure. The cement shall be considered as finally set when, upon, lowering the attachment gently cover the surface of the test block, the centre needle makes an impression, while the circular cutting edge of the attachment fails to do so. In other words the paste has attained such hardness that the centre needle does not pierce through the paste more than 0.5 mm.

Concrete Aggregates

Care should be taken in chosing the aggregates for a good concrete mix. Some of the below listed recommendations are, Size of Aggregates :

* The bigger the size of the aggregate, the less is the surface area and hence less amount of water is required for wetting the surface and less matrix or paste is required for lubricating the surface to reduce internal friction. * For a given quantity of water and paste, bigger size of aggregates will give higher workability. The above, of course will be true within certain limits.

Shape of Aggregates : * Angular, elongated or flaky aggregate makes the concrete very harsh when compared to rounded aggregates or cubical shaped aggregates. * Contribution to better workability of rounded aggregate will come from the fact that for the given volume or weight, it will have less surface area and less voids, than angular or flaky aggregate. * Not only that, being round in shape, the frictional resistance is also greatly reduced. This explains the reason why river sand and gravel provide greater workability to concrete, than crushed sand and aggregate. Surface Texture of Aggregates :

* The influence of surface texture on workability is again due to the fact that the total surface area of rough textured aggregates is more than the surface area of smooth rounded aggregates of same volume. * Rough textured aggregates will show poor workability and smooth or glassy textured aggregates will give better workability. Grading of Aggregates :

* This is one of the factors, which will have maximum influence on workability. * A well graded aggregate is the one, which has least amount of voids in a given volumeOther factors being constant, when the total voids are less, excess paste is available to give better lubricating effect . * With excess amount of paste, the mixture becomes cohesive and fatty, which prevents segregation of particles. * Aggregate particles will slide fast each other, with the least amount of compacting efforts. * The better the grading, the less is the void content and higher the workability. The above is true for the given amount of paste.

Concrete Curing
Curing - maintenance of a satisfactory moisture content and temperature in concrete for a suitable period of time immediately following placing & finishing so that the desired properties may develop. Factors that effect curing: * Time * Temperature * Moisture Penetration resistance vs time of concrete

Compressive strength vs age of concrete: (laboratory)

Compressive strength vs age of concrete (at different temperature)

Concrete strength gain versus time for concrete exposed to outdoor conditions. Concrete continues to gain strength for many years when moisture is provided by rainfall and other environmental sources.

During the first week to 10 days of curing it is important that the concrete not be permitted to freeze or dry out. In practical terms, about 90% of its strength is gained in the first 28 days. Concrete compressive strength depends upon many factors: * Quality and proportions of the ingredients. * The curing environment.